This is a Christian blog dealing with various issues. “Discernment is not simply a matter of telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather it is the difference between right and almost right.” -Charles Spurgeon. Scripture is my authority for all things regarding to life and godliness. 2 Cor. 10: 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Gen 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,

Richard Abanes and his hostility couldn't keep Apprising Ministries down (or other ministries that speak out against false teacher Rick Warren)! Introducing the new and improved Apprising Ministries.

Just be aware that he may be after YOU next. He's on a hunt it seems, seeking whom he may devour by threats and accussations against Christians. But God is our defense.

2Co 11:12 And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 2Co 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 2Co 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.2Co 11:15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Monday, July 28, 2008

The war isn't just outside with the world: its within professing Christian circles. I believe this is why God will deal with His house first, before He starts with the world.

Don't think that Ananais and Saphira house cleaning was just a one time deal folks. God is still the same with the same character, same Scripture, same power, same standard, same Truth, same demands, as back then.

Dan 2:22 He reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells in Him.

Heb 4:13 And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Eze 11:5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, "Say, Thus says the LORD: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind....

Psa 90:8 You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

His judgment IS coming and if you are truly His you need to examine yourself, hold to all of Scripture, defend the Truth, strengthen the brethern, wage war with the enemy inside AND outside the church walls, don't sweep error under the carpet and ignore it...and

"... Due to Richard’s claims of slander and libel regarding a 2005 article written by Apprising Ministries head, Ken Silva, the web hosting service,which does not check out any of these claims to see if there is any merit to them, gave Ken 48 hours to conform to Richard’s ideas of what should be on his website. The choice was this: take down your piece or lose your website. Ken correctly did not give in to this kind of threat and the site is now down."

This shouldn't surprise anyone. As I mentioned before, this IS the tactic of PDL. I'd go further and say its cultic in tactic. Let me show you how PDL and Warren deal with dissenters.

"As pastors, as shepherds of God's people, it's our job to protect our congregations from Satan's greatest weapon – disunity," he writes. "It's not always easy, but it's what we've been called to do."

...Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors have been wrong? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors might teach unbiblical principles? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren no earthly pastor is the recipient of all Divine revelation? Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that pastors have led entire flocks into grave error that may have eternal consequences?

Has it ever occurred to Rick Warren that he, too, might be capable of such mistakes? Rick Warren makes a spiritually fatal error when he proclaims, without any biblical authority, that Satan's greatest weapon is disunity. That is simply not true. The Bible reveals over and over again that even one spirit-filled believer can stand up against Satan. God is not impressed with numbers. He doesn't need numbers for victory. He doesn't care about big churches. He doesn't care about the cathedrals of men. He wants numbers only because He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

No, Satan's greatest weapon is hardly disunity. His greatest weapon since his fall and since the Garden of Eden has been deception. In fact, Satan loves unity – as long as those unified are knowingly or unknowingly serving him. He'd love for all of us to "go to hell in a handbasket."

Are more people led to death by debate within the body of Christ or by spiritual leaders who demand absolute obedience to themselves?

Paul warned us about this, too, in Acts 20:29-30: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."

For heaven's sake, nothing could be clearer from Scripture than that no man has a monopoly on truth. That is why Paul even had to correct Peter (Galatians 2:11-14). Besides worshipping God, this would seem to be one of the principal purposes of the church.

The church is warned over and over about false teachers throughout the Bible. Surely Rick Warren is familiar with those warnings. Why would he assume all pastors to be righteous and assume all lay dissenters to be unrighteous?

And, equally curious, why does Rick Warren eagerly seek to find common ground with Muslim leaders while, at the same time, so ruthlessly advocating the disfellowship of Christian believers?

End quote.

Now, I don't know Farah's theology well, and I don't agree with his interpretation of 2Peter 3, but his points about dissent from error and false teachers and shepherds are good ones.

Here's an excerpt from an excellent article from Crossroadon how Warren and the PDLers deal with dissenters. Richard Abanes has learned well. He can't stand for anyone to critize his guru Warren. If you go to his website, you will see some of these same strategies in play, change a bit for the medium of the Internet, but still, the same mentality.

The main strategy is summed up this way (read the article because there are tons of direct quotes and footnotes from the horse's mouth) (bold emphasis, mine):

Quote:

1. Identify resisters. In the Church Growth Movement, the resisters are those who question the need for systemic change (total restructuring of all facets), distrust the dialectic process, and criticize the transformational methods. What's worse, they refuse to shift their primary focus from the actual Scriptures to the positively phrased "purpose" or "vision" or "mission statement."

2. Assess resisters and determine the degree of resistance. Negative or uncompromising attitudes will be tracked using the sophisticated data systems that monitor each member.

3. Befriend, involve and persuade borderline resisters. Participation in small group dialogues may encourage borderline resisters to trade their traditional convictions for a more permissive fellowship. Some will reconsider their objections and conform to group demands. Others will quietly leave on their own.

4. Marginalize more persistent resisters. They obstruct progress and undermine the needed unity, momentum and passion for change. That's why pastors often suggest to "divisive" members that they might be happier elsewhere. When the unhappy members leave, they usually, out of obedience to their Lord, follow the pastor's request that they not speak to anyone about their reasons for leaving. The congregation will be told not to ask any questions. Thus the change leaders avoid potential conflict.

5. Vilify those who "stay and fight." At this stage, negative labels, accusations and slander are permitted, if not encouraged, to circulate. Resisters — now labeled as divisive troublemakers — are blamed for disunity, for slowing the change process, and for distracting the church body from wholehearted focus on its all-important vision, mission or purpose. Ponder the subtle suggestions and negative labels Pastor Warren attaches to individuals who question his purpose-driven management system:

"The Bible knows nothing of solitary saints or spiritual hermits isolated from other believers...."[6, page 130]

"Today's culture of independent individualism has created many spiritual orphans—'bunny believers' who hop around from one church to another without any identity, accountability or commitments. Many believe one can be a "good Christian' without joining (or even attending ) a local church, but God would strongly disagree."

"A church family moves you out of self-centered isolation."

"Isolation breeds deceitfulness."

Notice the derogatory implication in each statement. We discussed some of God's special "solitary saints" earlier. Trusting God alone, they grew strong in Spirit. Those who have searched long and hard for a Biblical church with solid teaching and edifying fellowship may identify with what Rick Warren mocks as "bunny believers." And the "isolation" of a faithful Christian who obeys God's call to separation from worldliness and unbiblical fellowship produces purity, not deceitfulness. [2 Corinthians 6:12-18]

6. Establish rules, regulations, laws and principles that silence, punish or drive out resisters.At Saddleback, every new member must sign a "Membership Covenant." It includes this innocuous promise: "I will protect the unity of my church... by following the leaders."

This covenant is backed by Scriptures such as Ephesians 4: 29 ("Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths....") and Hebrews 13:17 ("Obey your leaders and submit to their authority....")

But taking a stand on God's Word is hardly what the Bible refers to as "unwholesome talk." And, if church leaders followed the world's management system rather than God's way, the command to "obey your leader and submit...." would be overruled by other relevant Scriptures. For example, when the religious leaders in Jerusalem told John and Peter to stop teaching "in the name of Jesus," they answered,

“﻿Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. ﻿﻿For we cannot but speak the things which ﻿we have seen and heard.﻿” Acts 4:19

You saw evidence of Pastor Warren's holistic views in the chapter on "Unity and Community." Some of the following rules or principles also reflect a collective ideal. Violations open the door to various disciplines:

"God blesses churches that are unified. At Saddleback Church, every member signs a covenant that includes a promise to protect the unity of our fellowship. As a result, the church has never had a conflict that split the fellowship...."

"Rick's Rules of Growth.... Third, never criticize what God is blessing, even though it may be a style of ministry that makes you feel uncomfortable."

Who determines what God is blessing? Does the growth come through the Holy Spirit or through the latest strategies in behavior modification? The assessments that measure progress toward pre-planned outcomes don't discern spiritual influences — whether from God or other forces. Like public schools, they measure personal change toward collective thinking and readiness to cooperate, but they can't test the heart or measure obedience to the promptings of the Spirit. So the question remains: are new members added because they were seeking God or because they liked the feel-good fellowship, the sense of belonging and the unconditional respect?

End quote.

I have personally experienced this treatment at a non-PDL church. My husband and I were told to either be silent on our disagreement of the direction of the church (they want to build a multi-million dollar building around the senior pastor who has a track record of church-hopping and will not give a commitment of staying for any length of time, except to say "as long as the Lord has me here"), or they would "come after" us "vehemently". I know one pastor there who has gone to Warren's website who thinks Warren's a good guy, just has a different "methodology" than they would prefer.

This pastor that counts Warren as a brother, was in the business world for thirty years and so I know he's been exposed to all the New Age /business growth garbage (the same article from Crossroad above talks about this very thing in heavy documentation--there IS a bridge here), not the least of which is Mormon Steve Covey, the business growth guru. Yep, ol' Steve was quoted to me and my husband in a meeting with this pastor about our concerns regarding the use of Warren website.

My point is that they are using the same tactics as PDL and the Church/Business growth methods. I'd hate to see how bad it gets with a "church" that uses PDL!

Before I leave town, I am going to address the situation with Richard Abanes and what he did to Ken Silva at Apprising Ministries. Abanes contacted the legal department at the ISP for Apprising Ministries and claimed that Ken had posted slanderous/libelous material at his site in a 2005 article. Abanes wanted the article pulled. The ISP, which is IPower, has said that they will delete the entire site by this evening if Ken doesn’t comply.

Having read the article, many of us are at a loss as to what slander Richard is talking about. Further, it’s been up since 2005, and he only now decides to go after the author? Richard claims he never contacted Ken about it because he thinks Ken is arrogant and wouldn’t have changed any offending inaccuracies. This is the crux of the problem. The first step in any blog or website dispute over material is to contact the offender personally and ask for corrections or removal, based on what the issue is. That isn’t just Christianity 101, that’s common sense. Richard admits that Ken is a Christian brother. How much more important, then, that this step be followed. It was not, and now Ken’s site is in serious jeopardy because of Abanes’ bullying tactics.

"From a Christian perspective, what is perhaps most disturbing about Eckhart Tolle is his abuse of the Bible. It is one thing to disagree with scripture or to accept beliefs that are contrary to Christianity, but it is quite another thing to manipulate God’s Word to make it fit one’s own doctrines. And this is precisely what Tolle does..."

2 Tim. 2: ﻿16﻿ Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ﻿17﻿ Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ﻿18﻿ who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

2Tim. 4: ﻿14﻿ Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. ﻿15﻿ You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

3 John ﻿9﻿ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. ﻿10﻿ So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 3John 11﻿ Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.

For all those bloggers and pastors and others who have the gift of discernment and who care about the souls of your sheep and HIS Truth, so you have spoken out against Rick Warren and his false gospel and pragmatic man-centered ecumenicism,

Don't give up!

For Ken, Bud, Ingrid, and those listed above whom Abanes has publically attacked:

Mat 5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Mat 5:11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.Mat 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Stand firm, and let nothing move you. Just stay faithful to the Word of God.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.1Pe 4:13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.1Pe 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.1Pe 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 1Pe 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1Pe 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?1Pe 4:18 And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"1Pe 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Friday, July 25, 2008

This morning I learned that Harvest Crusade founder, Greg Laurie, lost his son Christopher in a car crash this morning. Christopher leaves behind both parents, his pregnant wife, two-year old daughter, and his brother.

It is very sad to lose a family member, but especially a child or a parent. From all that I read on the various Harvest websites/blogs, their view is that they (the family and church) are trusting in Christ Jesus and seek to find His comfort. This has been my prayer for them this morning, as the wander in shock and grief. No, we grieve knowing God is fully in control, that He is the God of All Comfort, and that He will get us through such dark times...and especially we can have joy when it is a Christian who has died....they are in heaven with the Master! What joy, however, to know that we do not grieve as if we have no hope (1Thes. 4:13).In such cases, it is a bittersweet joy, if I can put it in human terms.

I do have concerns however. Just two nights ago I had said something about Tony Snow, FOX tv show host, radio show host, and President Bush's press secretary. I joked (half kidding) about how Snow was a" profession liar...whoops, press secretary". Boy did I get slapped for that! After all he just died and we need to respect the dead and be sensitive to his family.

Huh?

(I'm pretty much thinking his family wasn't on Paltalk two nights ago).

Ok, my view of press secretaries is based on years of watching them stand and spin, avaid, and contort actions and things the current president has done and said. Don't you call that lying? Now, did Tony do that all the time? No. He was likely one of the more "honest" PS's, but the job requires spin control; its the nature of the position.

That aside (it is only politics after all), MY concern is how all the "Evangelical Christians" claim Snow as their own.

WHY?

The very last thing Snow did on this earth, was to be buried by his Roman Catholic Church.

Hello? The RCC isn't Christian. Snow had time to realize how close to death he was---twice. He loved his family and was intellegent, so I am giving him the benefit of the doubt that where he wanted to be buried, who he wanted to preside over the funeral, and who he wanted to invite and to speak, was decided before hand in his will.

The problem is that "Christians" are so quick to believe anyone and everyone's saved if they mention Jesus or the Bible or "faith". But what are folks really doing? They are accepting and approving of a faith that may indeed not be of "like faith"; that is, calling an unbeliever, a believer.

We have to be VERY VERY careful who we call brothers and sisters in Christ. Now that things are escalating into deception and heresy at light speed, and with more and more "Christians" having NO discernment whatsover, we MUST question all things, even people's testimonies.

Joh 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."

Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

1Co 5:11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not even to eat with such a one.

1Jo 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1Jo 2:4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

The Roman Catholic Church has no Gospel, no Truth, no Light, no Christ Jesus, No Bible. Those who embrace her are lost. But God, who is rich in mercy, has saved many a Catholic, OUT of RCC and certainly not through it, because of it, or in it.

He ONLY saves people IN Truth and Through Truth, By Truth, for Truth, for HE IS THE GOD OF Truth:

James 1: ﻿18﻿ He chose to GIVE US BIRH THROUGH THE WORD OF TRUTH, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.

1John 2:21.. NO LIE IS OF THE TRUTH.

2Thes. 2: ﻿10﻿ and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they REFUSED TO LOVE THE TRUTH and so be saved.

2 Thes. 2: ﻿13﻿ But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you ﻿to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit AND THROUGH BELIEF in the TRUTHH. 14﻿ He called you to THIS THROUGH OUR GOSPEL , that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The other concern I have is this:

Why is someone off limits simply because they are dead?

What is the magic time span where we can start to question the validity of their claim of faith? Months? Years?

John Paul II died a few years ago. I rejected all he taught and stood for while he was alive AND after he died. He gets no free pass just because he's in hell.

I do not understand where Christians get this notion of "not to speak ill of the dead", when clearly Scripture does otherwise. Just take a look at Jude for instance.

Jude ﻿11﻿ Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

I dare say "ill" (aka know as the truth even if it sheds negativity on the dead person) speaking happened immediately after the death of Ananias and Saphira. Their sudden death for lying to God was the talk of the town, causing all to fear God and HIS church there in Jerusalem.

Act 5:11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

How about other people who are spoken about in Scripture. Clearly they are long gone. People like Saul, Judas, Philetus, Hymenaus, Alexander the metal worker, Diotraphes. Are they off limits too, simply because they are dead? Or are centuries a good, safe passage of time to then discuss their hatred of God?

Here's the thing: whether a person is dead or not, doesn't matter, if they were lost, they were lost. If a dead person was a deceiver, then let's not cover up that horrific fact just because they recently died. Indeed, many people laud a person when the die...maybe to comfort or protect the family members, but what good is that? Are we giving false peace? False hope? Should not the death of a lost person cause us to proclaim the Truth all the more and use it to caution the living?I say yes.

Nor should we deal with someone in gross error/heresy/deception/a false church/immorality any differently while they are alive than when they are dead. Truth is truth period. Comfort is not sentimentality. Its resting in God and HIS Word while we face such hard issues in life.

I believe God put in the harsh realities of the enemies of the Cross and their deaths for our benefit and warning. He is a God who is just. He is love, too. But He is holy, holy, holy. He is the "God of truth". He never sugar-coats truth to make anyone feel better about themselves OR their loved one. And if we are HIS children, we should be the same way.

Do we rip people apart? No. But we don't sweep under the rug the fact that a person was lost or deceived, either. What we can do is proclaim the truth, caution the listeners (like in a discussion with others about a recently deceased person), and in regard to the family, we can pray for them and point them to the God of all comfort, giving them Scriptures to hold on to while they walk through such a hard trial.

Monday, July 14, 2008

I read "Seven Characteristics of False Teachers" by Thomas Brooks recently. I originally read excerpts from his sermon at a website where the issue of false teachers/shepherds was being discussed. I want take slightly different angle.

As I see it, the dangerous teachers and shepherds are not necssarily the wacky ones like Benny Hinn. They are dangerous of course. They spew lies from the pit of Hell, no doubt. But they are obvious and most "conservative Christians" already understand that.

The ones I'm far more worried about are those that are hiding out in "solid" churches and seminaries. These are the ones that everyone follows, are considered "godly" (please, someone, explain to me exactly what that means), and weild a great amount of authority and respect both in the local church and for some also nationally or internationally.

These are men who "secretly sneak in among you" Jude 4. That means they profess a great amount of truth, yet hold to grevious error, either morally or doctrinally, or both.

Degrees, blogs, books, articles, theological soceities, seminaries, colleges, and speaking engagements are these men's arena. They are devious fellows; smart, politically suave, and they know just what to stay to stay under the radar....and to keep their position.

Ironically, however, they are arrogant enough to speak what they believe without shame. It may be because they feel safe in their supposed authority or influence that they believe they are untouchable, therefore to some, they express their beliefs, but to others they play the symantics game, blowing around smoke and playing with mirrors just enough to confuse most people....

Except God isn't confused. Nor is He blind. And He has equipped His churches with Christians with gifts from the Holy Spirit, for the common good and His glory. The gift of discerning of spirits is one gift that, along with the gift of knowledge, will detect the false teachers no matter their subtlety. They are found out because God demands us to use our gifts, protect His sheep, and wants His church to be pure in doctrine as well as practice.

False shepherds don't care about that. They are hirelings with a resume to fill and then move on to greener pastures when they've "out grown the ministry" (truly an anti-biblical notion) or run out of recylced sermons. All of course, "for the glory of God" and because "it's God's will".

Sound familiar?

Hierlings/false shepherds are notorious for being worse church-hoppers than most of the flock they ravage.

The issue of false teachers usually is brought up in relation to a "feel good" gospel. While I agree that often happens, my focus here is on those who seem solid. The gospel they proclaim isn't full of health and wealth Schullerisms or Osteenisms. On the surface, they appear at least, to be O.K.

The subtlety of error here, is that their gospel still will be man-centered. At some point, their gospel isn't ALL of grace nor is it ALL of Christ Jesus; their gospel is missing either: the resurrection of Christ Jesus, His Lordship, man's sin, or God's wrath. Often their gospel is an offer to a God-hater to "make a decision for Christ", to believe God "has a wonderful plan for your life", is "begging you to say "yes" to His offer while He is on bended knee". They will also use pragmatism in evangelism which is a reflection of their distrust in the Holy Spirit to move as He wills with whom He wishes, not to mention the power of the Scriptures.

Even more subtle is their view of other people's god. Everything these heretics proclaim to believe personally would most likely pass The Smell Test of "evangelicals" (a word that hardly means anything today). Most Christians are happy with something that sounds relatively sound and are unwilling to ask hard questions of a leader's beliefs in specifics. In reality, what they believe about what other people believe actually reflects what their own true beliefs about God.

The problem is, while espousing doctrines like the Trinity or the omnicience of God, they quietly will say things like:

"Just because someone doesn't believe in the Trinity, doesn't mean they have a different God."

"I'm so tired of Christians saying if someone doesn't believe in the Trinity, they don't have God."

"Mormons worship the same God as us, at least he has the same name..."

"Some Muslims have the same God as we do, but its sameness in part, not whole."

"My dear friend is an Open Theist but I KNOW he's a Christian because he has proclaimed salvation in faith alone in Christ alone."

"When Christians and Muslims speak of God, they are speaking of the same Being."

"Do Muslims worship/have the same God as Christians? Yes and no."

"Is the Father of Jesus the God of Mohammad? The answer is surely yes and no."

"Christians and Muslims can together affirm many important truths about this great God."

"However, while Islam today has much in common with Christianity on the essential attributes of God, there is a wide diverdence on His moral and relationship attributes."

"So while Christians and Muslims believe in the same God, they conceive of His nature differently."

"Though Muslims and Christians may believe in the same God as subject..."

"Allah is a perfectly legitimate name for God."

Every person quoted here is considered as Evangelical and Christian. All but one speaks publically and teaches at seminaries. But when asked, they play word games, use smoke and mirrors, but ultimately they reveal what they truly believe. One has to be a skilled swordsman to fight such heinous deception.

Scripture says there is but ONE God and HE has revealed His name and Himself already: Allah is not Him, nor is the god of the Mormons. If a person denies Jesus Christ the Lord, as do all religions but biblical Christianity, Scripture says they have not the Father either.

1Jn 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

1Jn 2:22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

1Jn 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

2Co 6:15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

2Co 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Isa 40:25 To whom then will you compare Me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

Psa 147:5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

I've been thinking about how so many "Christian theologians" and "apologists" are rejecting the declaration of the clarity of Truth in Scripture. I came across a passage that spoke of the clarity of proclaiming the Gospel, which made me look at some other verses, too.

Post-modernism/liberalism says we can't dare to be dogmatic on anything because truth can't be really known (except when it comes to being dogmatically against the dogmatics, lol). It's from this mind-set that also says no one can make any judgements (except of course, for juding others to be judgmental).

If a truth is not bodly declared by a teacher, its because they are not convinced that it is Truth. Biblical truth is true forever and will never change because God is Truth and God doesn't change. We can stake our very lives upon it. But if someone doesn't think it really is clear or clearly true, they will never be bold about it. That's why so many teachers today won't "dogmatically" declare Scripture to be all-sufficient for all things in life and godliness. They pretend things aren't clear, that none of us can really know Truth. How convenient, because now they can behave like the world and claim no one can judge their behavior or hearts; they can slap on slogans like, "for God's glory" or "to reach the lost" and sear their conscience to their sin.

Clarity:

Col 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.Col 4:3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison--Col 4:4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.Col 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

"clear":

phaneroō

Thayer Definition:1) to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way1a) make actual and visible, realised1b) to make known by teaching1c) to become manifest, be made known1d) of a person1d1) expose to view, make manifest, to show one’s self, appear1e) to become known, to be plainly recognised, thoroughly understood1e1) who and what one is

Other verses with the same word:

Joh 1:31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel."

Joh 3:20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

Rom 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages Rom 16:26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- Rom 16:27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Eph 5:12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.Eph 5:13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,Eph 5:14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."Eph 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,Eph 5:16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

I like the Eph. 5 passage because it states that one's deeds are made clear by the light of God exposing it as evil, and therefore we should walk wisely (not worldly), and that to NOT understand the will of God IS to be foolish. How many times do Post-modern /Emergent /liberals say we can't judge one's actions nor can we really know God's will? God condemns such foolishness.

A similar word used:

Col 1:25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,Col 1:26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.Col 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col 1:28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

"made known":

gnōrizōThayer Definition:1) to make known1a) to become known, be recognised2) to know, to gain knowledge of, have thorough knowledge of2a) in earlier Greek it means “to gain a knowledge of” or “have thorough knowledge of”

More of phaneroō:

2Ti 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,2Ti 1:9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,2Ti 1:10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,2Ti 1:11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,2Ti 1:12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 1Jn 2:20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.1Jn 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

***Another similar word used:

Luk 8:17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

Rom 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Rom 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

1Co 11:19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

The next two verses, again, show that we can know clearly what the works of the flesh are and who is and is not of God:

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1Jn 3:10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil:whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Can we know Truth? Is it clear? Absolutely!

1Jn 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

"Evangelicals" cave out of fear of the opposition again, according to a news report by Worldnetdaily:

Dozens of Christian leaders meeting in Denver have concluded they should "get behind Sen. John McCain even if they didn't like everything about him" because the alternative, presumptive Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama, actually could oversee the criminalization of Christianity, according to a report.

"The alternative is so bad we must support John McCain," Phyllis Schlafly, founder and president of Eagle Forum, told the group, according to the bulletin.

Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.’”

Mathew Staver, president of Liberty Counsel and dean of the law school at Liberty University..."Our shared conservative evangelical values and our concern about judicial activismcompelled us to unite around the presidential candidate who most closely aligns with us," Staver said. "That candidate is obviously Sen. John McCain. United we will move forward to advance our values in the short- and long-term. We are committed to a transgenerational, multiethnic and multiracial conservative movement."

Conservative? Evangelical? HOW? See how he has admitted to being an adulterous flanderer.

Joseph Farrar of WND reminds us, "McCain voted to confirm Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Steven Breyer to the Supreme Court. He also, as is his nature, conspired with Democrats in the Senate to block approval of Bush's most conservative jurists."

Back to the Worldnetdaily article:In his own commentary, Strang, whose publishing empire includes Charisma magazine and others, noted he supported Gov. Mike Huckabee in the primaries."From my perspective as a conservative Christian he was the perfect candidate – strong on the issues important to me yet an effective leader in Arkansas who is articulate, passionate and caring for those less fortunate."But now I'm supporting Sen. John McCain. I've long admired him as a great American hero. On the important issues I believe he's right on. However, he hasn't cozied up to the so-called religious right. But that's not a problem to me. Too many leaders in the Christian conservative movement wait to see who asks for their support instead of being principled. At least McCain is principled," he wrote.

"The fact is that most Christians will vote for McCain because of his stand against abortion and his support of traditional marriage," he said.

He had an affair while married to his wife, Carol, who not only saw him through his five years as an POW, but sustained massive injuries from a car accident while he was in Viet Nam, with his current second wife, Cindy. He's admitted to having various affairs over the years.

But already the McCains’ marriage had begun to fray. ‘John started carousing and running around with women,’ said Robert Timberg [Annapolis graduate, Robert Timberg, who wrote The Nightingale’s Song, a bestselling biography of McCain and four other graduates of the academy].

"In February 1980, less than a year after he met Cindy, McCain petitioned a Florida court to dissolve his marriage to Carol, calling the union "irretrievably broken."

McCain has acknowledged that he had girlfriends during this time, without going into details. Some friends blame his dissatisfaction with Carol, but others give some credence to her theory of a mid-life crisis.

Joseph Farrar of Worldnetdaily, in his commentary on what's wrong with McCain, says in part"

For starters, McCain has been, for a very long time, dead wrong on immigration and border policy. He is still dead wrong.

In 2004, voters in his own state passed Proposition 200, requiring proof of citizenship before someone can vote or participate in state giveaway programs. Despite opposition led by McCain, the measure was approved by 56 percent of the vote, with close to 50 percent of Hispanics approving it.

He's not only out of step with Americans on this issue, he's out of step even with his own constituency in Arizona.

He has been a leader in the amnesty cause in the Senate, partnering with Ted Kennedy on the bill's language and sponsorship.

He also led opposition to building the border fence.

But what about judges, you ask? Won't a McCain presidency give Americans a chance to reclaim the Supreme Court in the name of the Constitution and original intent?

The evidence is far from conclusive, given that McCain voted to confirm Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Steven Breyer to the Supreme Court. He also, as is his nature, conspired with Democrats in the Senate to block approval of Bush's most conservative jurists.

He gave us McCain-Feingold – the worst legislative attack on the First Amendment in decades. This law actually restricts political speech prior to elections – a clearly unconstitutional approach to so-called "campaign finance reform."

He's a globalist – standing strong even today behind agreements like NAFTA that are ravaging Third World economies, eliminating jobs in the U.S. and chipping away at U.S. sovereignty and the power of the people.

Need I remind everyone it was John McCain who nearly single-handedly stripped our troops of the interrogation tools they needed to defeat the enemy and prevent attacks on innocent Iraqis and our own soldiers? More than anyone else in American politics, McCain led the fight to stop coercive interrogations, an absolutely essential weapon in our arsenal in the conduct of this war and future wars.

McCain calls it torture. But it is not. Coercive interrogations are a necessity of any successful war campaign. When he stopped them with his legislative campaign, his actions not only prolonged the war and led to higher casualties for American troops and innocent Iraqis, he also ensured any future war will be far most costly in U.S. lives.

The question is in either case, what principles does McCain have or not have for the Dems to consider him an option? He's a RINO and has been for years now. NY Times says:

What Mr. McCain almost never mentions are two extraordinary moments in his political past that are at odds with the candidate of the present:His discussions in 2001 with Democrats about leaving the Republican Party, and his conversations in 2004 with Senator John Kerry about becoming Mr. Kerry’s running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket.

There are wildly divergent versions of both episodes, depending on whether Democrats or Mr. McCain and his advisers are telling the story. The Democrats, including Mr. Kerry, say that not only did Mr. McCain express interest but that it was his camp that initially reached out to them. Mr. McCain and his aides counter that in both cases the Democrats were the suitors and Mr. McCain the unwilling bride.So McCain:

Is an adulter

Voted FOR two liberal US Supreme Court justices

Tried to BLOCK the conservative justices from being voted IN

Sides with Kennedy, Feingold, and other big DNC leaders

Has considered leaving the GOP for the DNC

Softens coercive interrogations to get information out of our enemies

Is chipping away at the sovereignty of the US

Believes in amnesty for illegal aliens

Opposes building a fence on our borders to deal with the millions of illegals aliens

Opposed requiring proof of citizenship before doleing out citizens' hard earned money--against his own constituants in AZ

So, WHAT principles does his man have? HOW does he support "traditional marriage" when he's got a track record, by his OWN admission, to being an ADULTERER? Is Strang serious? Is this the "values" that runs "Charisma Magazine" etc?

About Me

My name is Denise. I grew up in the Charismatic movement, but God delivered me out of it, and I thank Him for that. My heart is to show other believers the error of various movements(WOF, NAR, Seeker Friendly, Reformed theology/New Calvinism).I want to help them find truth through Scripture. I love the Word of God and hold it dear to my heart. It is the standard by which I filter everything, including doctrine & politics, including my own thoughts and actions. Ps 138:2
There is One God, and within the One God there are three distinct, co-equal and co-eternal persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit(1Peter 1:2; Matt. 28:19; Matt. 3:16-17; John 14:16-17). Literal 6 day Creation is Truth.Scripture is infallible, inerrant, & God-breathed (2Tim. 3:16, Heb.4:12, Ps. 19 & 119). Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone apart from any works (baptism, prayers, walking an aisle, etc.) so that no one can boast (Eph. 2:8-10). God is totally Sovereign in ALL things (Ps 33). I do mean ALL. Man is responsible for his sin. God is responsible for saving the elect through HIS means.